Is hollow tine aeration more expensive to have done than scarification?

Lady_K

Which is the most expensive to have carried out on your lawn, scarification or hollow tine aeration?
I know what they both do but I'm just a bit confused with a price I've been quoted for aeration as a family member has been quoted half the price for scarifying her lawns which are really not much smaller than the areas I have been quoted for aeration wit the same firm.
Also the same areas of each of our houses are being treated spring, summer, late summer, autumn etc and the price they charge me is less than they charge her for the exact same treatments which is another reason I'm confused about the scarification and aeration quotes

glasgowdan

Hi there - there are so many variables to consider with lawn treatments.

One key thing - hollow tine aeration should really be done in conjunction with top dressing, or the air gaps created simply compress and fill up again, whereas a sandy top dressing helps keep the air flow through the soil long term.

The price is down to 2 factors - aerators are more expensive to buy or hire than scarifiers, and aerating takes longer than scarifying too.

www.danfrazergardening.co.uk

Lady_K

Thanks,

I had it carried out earlier this week and they never mentioned anything about top dressing. I'm not very impressed about that because really it could mean its been a waste of money. The process took about 15 minutes if that so if scarification is quicker they would be running round the grass. It was a powerfull and impressive machine though and I commented on it, he told me they cost over 8k.
He was due to come Thursday but rang me on Tuesday to say he had a cancellation and could he come round then. I said yes so long as its not going to make a difference that the grass is a bit long, around 5in. He said no it wouldnt make a difference at all but I wish I had of had time to get the grass cut because they recommend that you leave the cores on the surface to biodegrade so now I feel I cant have the grass cut.
Maybe I should get some top dressing sand to get it done so its not a waste of time? but surely the grass would have to be cut to apply it or it would have to get past all that grass which has now been flattened by the machine

I've not been very impressed with them for a few reasons anyway, I just don't think they know enough or even near enough to what they should do about the buisiness they claim to be experts in. Its Greenthumb

Unfortunately Dan you are too far away from me, I'm in the midlands

glasgowdan

Bit of a pain that, and I know they only leave cores on the surface as it saves them clearing them up.

Cores are removed to increase aeration in the soil/rootzone. Leaving them on the surface means they will eventually blow and get dragged back into the holes and block them up again, hence topdressing with sand fills the holes but with a very porous material instead.

When I core I always cut the grass very short first which helps the clear up process.

If I were you, and if it's dry, I would cut the grass as normal, once at normal height and once again in a week at a very short height (but not short enough to scalp the lawn!). This will result in collection of some of the cores, but if it's wet then stay off the lawn as the cores will be squashed into the surface.

You can top dress yourself using a rake and 1-2kg of dry sand per m2 and use the back of the rake to work the sand right in and it will fall into the holes.

Feel free to pm me if you want to ask anything more specific.